New Zealand could open to holidaymakers from Germany as early as July
After a long period of isolation, the island state in the Pacific wants to reopen to tourists and moderate its entry requirements.
Good news for long-distance travellers: the government in New Zealand has announced a gradual relaxation of the strict corona entry regulations two years after the borders were closed. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that vaccinated tourists from all countries would be allowed to return to the Pacific island nation from October.
According to these plans, travelers from countries such as Germany and Great Britain, which belong to the so-called “ visa waiver countries ” and are exempt from the visa requirement for New Zealand, could even enter the country from July 22nd. According to the official tourism site Visit New Zealand , it is “very likely” that this earlier entry date for visa-exempt countries will actually be set.
It is still unclear whether vacationers will have to isolate themselves for a few days after arrival and, according to the authorities, depends on the development of the corona numbers as part of the contagious Omicron variant.
From the end of this month, vaccinated New Zealanders who are in Australia will be allowed to return home. You must self-isolate there for ten days. So far, a quarantine in a state facility was mandatory. From mid-March, citizens from all other parts of the world can return home – then the isolation period will be reduced to seven days. Specialists and 5,000 international students will be allowed into the country from April.
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The current corona situation in New Zealand
New Zealand has been in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world for almost two years. Traveling to the country is difficult and subject to strict rules. For this reason, and above all because of its geographical location, New Zealand quickly and effectively got the corona pandemic under control in the country. Last year, however, Ardern had to admit that this was hardly feasible with the spread of the Delta variant. So far, almost 17,000 cases of infection have been confirmed in the country with five million inhabitants, and 53 people have died in connection with Covid-19. The 7-day incidence is currently 22.7 (as of February 3, 2022).
Entry into New Zealand
According to the Federal Foreign Office , international travel to New Zealand will remain prohibited until further notice. The same applies to tourists. Only New Zealanders and “permanent resident permit holders” are allowed to enter the country. They then have to obtain a “ Border Exception ” from the immigration authorities. All travelers must immediately self-isolate for 14 days in quarantine facilities near the airport. The place must be purchased before departure and verified by the “ Managed Isolation Allocation System ”. The flight cannot be started without proof.
Travelers must also present a negative corona test, which may not be more than 72 hours old at the time of departure. Another corona test will be carried out upon entry. Two more will follow during the quarantine. Exceptions apply to travelers from Australia, Antarctica and the Pacific Islands.
New Zealand has been in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world for almost two years. Traveling to the country is difficult and subject to strict rules. For this reason, and above all because of its geographical location, New Zealand quickly and effectively got the corona pandemic under control in the country. Last year, however, Ardern had to admit that this was hardly feasible with the spread of the Delta variant. So far, almost 17,000 cases of infection have been confirmed in the country with five million inhabitants, and 53 people have died in connection with Covid-19. The 7-day incidence is currently 22.7 (as of February 3, 2022).
Entry into New Zealand
According to the Federal Foreign Office , international travel to New Zealand will remain prohibited until further notice. The same applies to tourists. Only New Zealanders and “permanent resident permit holders” are allowed to enter the country. They then have to obtain a “ Border Exception ” from the immigration authorities. All travelers must immediately self-isolate for 14 days in quarantine facilities near the airport. The place must be purchased before departure and verified by the “ Managed Isolation Allocation System ”. The flight cannot be started without proof.
Travelers must also present a negative corona test, which may not be more than 72 hours old at the time of departure. Another corona test will be carried out upon entry. Two more will follow during the quarantine. Exceptions apply to travelers from Australia, Antarctica and the Pacific Islands.
